Eye care important for everyone

Are you taking good enough care of your eyes? According to a new study, your gender and where you live may indicate if you are practicing good eye health.

Women go to eye doctors 28 percent more than men, according to the 2013 Eye Health Index released by VSP Vision Care, the largest not-for-profit vision benefits and services company in the country. Analysis showed that women, who are statistically at greater risk for eye-related diseases, make a more concerted effort to care for their eyes.

The research also concluded that Boise, Idaho, is the top city where more residents took care of their eyes in 2012. Boise City had the highest rate of eye exams compared to any other city on the index for the past two years. Other cities ranking in the top 10 eye healthy cities are Sacramento, Oklahoma City-Tulsa, Wichita, Columbus (Ohio), Des Moines, Birmingham, Denver, Raleigh, and the San Francisco Bay Area.

More details about the new study, along with eye care tips, can be found at www.vspblog.com/healthyeyes.

In addition to identifying vision correction needs, eye doctors are often first to detect signs of serious health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.